Its brightly-decorated ‘Tree House’ admissions area, with dedicated paediatric staff, aims to help ease experiences for children and families, and plush recliners aim to ensure maximum comfort for recovering patients.

About 50 patients a day will pass through the Hub. It replaces a dated area which was unable to cope with the patient volume and did not have a second-stage recovery area.

The Hub is part of a $93.2 million hospital upgrade. Stage one of the overall upgrade is now complete and stages two to four will provide new staff amenities, improved sterile and equipment store capabilities and office meeting rooms.

“We are investing in Victoria’s health system and building important projects – like the one here in Geelong – so that all Victorians get the quality health care they need,” Ms Hennessy said.

The 2017-18 State Budget included $2 billion for health and ambulance services, programs and agencies across four years, including $1.67 billion supporting hospitals to deliver more care, services and surgeries.

Ms Couzens said as part of the $93.2 million University Hospital upgrade patients, and especially children, would be getting the day surgery facilities they deserve.

G21 Pillars

About G21

G21 is the formal alliance of government, business and community organisations working together to improve the lives of people within the Geelong region across five member municipalities – Colac Otway, Golden Plains, Greater Geelong, Queenscliffe and Surf Coast.